Russellville Dream Center holds annual Christmas to Remember

It certainly has been a Christmas to Remember, as vehicles packed Franklin Street in three lanes trying to reach the Russellville Dream Center. The Dream Center handed out 30,000 pounds of food, along with clothes and toys, Saturday.

The Dream Center held its annual Christmas to Remember in 2020 fashion, with the entire event in a COVID-19-friendly drive-through format.

“With COVID, we decided to do something a little different and keep everybody safe for our community, for our church and just for the people,” said Russellville Dream Center Director Shawn Reathford.

The event was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but vehicles began lining up as early as 8 a.m. In total, the Dream Center saw 158 cars – 221 adults and 149 children.

“Our heart is community outreach,” Reathford said. “When people leave here, we want them No. 1 to know Jesus Christ, but we also want them to know there are people here who care about them.”

The City of Russellville blocked off streets to allow the Dream Center to line up cars. Cars traveled down Cotaco Street before forming three lanes down Franklin Street and turning on Coffee Avenue.

After registering through the food bank, cars were sorted into lanes, and a worker directed traffic to ensure each person was seen.

Each child received one toy, and families received bags of clothes donated from Walmart. Each family also received a box of food, with all food coming from the North Alabama Food Bank and community partners, such as the Walmart in Russellville and Publix in Muscle Shoals and Florence.

”If there are 100 cars lined up, and there’s two people in a car, you have to think about how many people that is in the community that are struggling or are hungry,” Reathford said.

Each box contained frozen hams, turkeys or chicken to give each family enough for a Christmas meal. Reathford said there was enough food in each box to last seven to ten days.

“This is what it is all about for us,” Reathford said. “We love being able to help families have a great Christmas and helping people out.”

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

Franklin County

RCS holds annual Black History Month program 

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: American Legion Posts 64 and 120 – ‘Veterans Strengthening America’

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss Northwest Shoals

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss UNA

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: In memoriam – Monuments honor the fallen of Franklin

High School Sports

RHS senior chosen as Bryant-Jordan Region 8 Scholar winner

High School Sports

Russellville High School ladies soccer team members participate in annual Night to Shine

x